Seven
Third Year of Reestablished Peace · AD 198
'Sister-in-law, I brought you a visitor,' the cheery voice of Master Zhou rings out. I hand Qing'er, with whom I am playing assembling a tower of disks of different sizes onto a rod, to Ah Yan to take care of, and rise to meet Master Zhou. Behind Master Zhou is a handsome man about the same age as him with whom he exchanges a playful glance, and I comprehend the visitor's identity in a flash.
'General! It is an honour to have you here,' I exclaim, bowing formally. Behind him, Zijing smiles, pleased that I have identified Sun Ce so quickly.
Master Sun smiles and tells me to dispense with formalities. Walking over to Ah Yan and holding out his hands, he asks me, 'May I?'
'Of course,' I reply. Master Sun cradles Qing'er and I note appreciatively how skilfully he handles her.
'What's the baby's name?' he enquires.
'Qing, as in the phrase "wǎn rú qīng yáng" [clear and soaring],' I answer.
'Just like her brow and eyes,' Master Sun remarks. ' "There was a beautiful woman / Lovely, with clear eyes and a fine brow [wǎn rú qīng yáng]."[1] She will surely grow up to be an attractive woman!'
Master Zhou holds out his arms, wanting to hold Qing'er too.
'Who asks you not to have a child of your own? Asking to cradle others' babies all day!' Master Sun ribs Master Zhou, while Zijing and I attempt to stifle our smiles.
'Don't think I don't know—you can't wait to arrange a child betrothal for your and my children!' Master Zhou retorts. We roar into laughter, and I am amazed at how freely Master Sun and Master Zhou let their hair down in Zijing's and my presence. Master Sun and Master Zhou play with Qing'er for several minutes, and it is easy to forget that this is the general who has conquered three commandries in the Southland and his right-hand man.
'How is it that I, the father, do not get to carry my daughter?' Zijing enquires roguishly.
'You'll have all the time in the world to play with her when we're gone!' Master Sun and Master Zhou rebut simultaneously, and we burst out laughing once again. Master Zhou, taking pity upon Zijing, hands Qing'er to him.
'My wife gave birth to a second daughter recently. Although I do not mind daughters, I admit that I look forward to having a son to whom to impart all I know,' Master Sun says. Noting Qing'er's toys, he continues, 'I see that Zijing and your lady raise your child well. In the future, Lady, you will bear Zijing a son who will do his father proud.'
Next to Master Sun, I see Zijing tense up, aware of how this last unwitting sentence must wound me. But it is said with such sincerity that I cannot bring myself to spoil the mood with my self-pity.
'You too, General, will have a son who will not shame his father,' I respond.
Master Sun grins widely and pesters Zijing to let him play with Qing'er again, and for a moment, I allow myself to believe that Heaven may be kind to me.
[1] 《诗经·郑风·野有蔓草》:
野有蔓草、零露漙兮。有美一人、清扬婉兮。邂逅相遇、适我愿兮。
野有蔓草、零露瀼瀼。有美一人、婉如清扬。邂逅相遇、与子偕臧。
The poem On the Moor is the Creeping Grass in the Book of Odes reads:
On the moor is the creeping grass, / And how heavily it is loaded with dew! / There was a beautiful woman, / Lovely, with clear eyes and fine brow! / We met together accidentally, / And so my desire was satisfied.
On the moor is the creeping grass, / Heavily covered with dew! / There was a beautiful woman, / Lovely, with clear eyes and fine brow! / We met together accidentally, / And she and I were happy together.
This translation is adapted from one by James Legge.
See endnotes for chapter notes.
